By the Caribbean Journal staff

The highly anticipated Park Hyatt St Kitts is “still on track” for a November 2017 opening, the property said in a statement.

The news comes after the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which largely spared the twin-island federation of St Kitts and Nevis.

“Sadly, not all communities in the Caribbean are reporting the same story and our immediate thoughts and hearts go out to those who have been impacted,” the property said.

The property, which will be set in the Christophe Harbour development on St Kitts’ southeastern peninsula, will include 78 rooms and 48 suites, each with a private balcony or terrace, along with three dining concepts and a 7,000-square-foot event space.

It will be the first Park Hyatt hotel in the Caribbean region.

The post Park Hyatt St Kitts “Still on Track” for November Debut appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The government of the United Arab Emirates has announced the gift of $10 million to Caribbean nations and territories that were impacted by recent severe hurricanes.

“The UAE is honored to stand by our friends in the Caribbean, working together to recover and rebuild,” Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs told Caribbean Journal in a statement. This is a reminder for all of us to address and be concerned of climate change issues.”

The gift was announced as part of the United Arab Emirates’ intervention at the high-level meeting on Hurricane Irma on the sidelines of UNGA72.

The UAE has been an increasingly significant investor and supporter in the Caribbean, funding a number of energy and hospitality projects, particularly in the Eastern Caribbean.

The post United Arab Emirates to Give $10 Million for Caribbean Recovery appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The island of St Barth was pummeled by Hurricane Irma, but it’s making a strong recovery so far, according to initial reports.

One hotel calls it “St Barth 2.0.”

All roads have been cleared, while the commercial port and airport are already back to operations.

Bakeries and food shops are already open, while restaurants and bars are gradually reopening their doors, according to a newly-released statement from the St Barth Tourism committee.

Further, the island aims to begin welcoming its small-ship cruise passengers as early as Oct. 30, the committee said.

“The island of St Barthelemy is in full effervescence,” the committee said. “With extraordinary solidary.”

The island’s flagship hotel, the Eden Rock St Barths, had another word for it: St Barth 2.0, with plans to welcome guests to its private villas in December and to its hotel in the summer of 2018.

“The best things in life are worth waiting for and St Barths 2.0 is underway,” the hotel said in a statement.

Or as the island’s Le Toiny hotel said, “Paradise will be regained.”

Here’s hoping that happens very soon.

The post “St Barth 2.0” Moving Ahead As Island Continues Recovery appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The beloved Grand Case Beach Club hotel was hit during Hurricane Irma, and now its staff and their families need help, both to rebuild their homes and their lives.

The property has set up a crowdfunding page to help raise money that will be distributed immediately to directly benefit their families, providing them with the resources needed to get back on their feet.

Follow this link, and you can help the “Grand Case Beach Club family” in their quest for recovery.

Visit the crowdfunding page for more information.

As for the hotel, officials said they had a “strong team” working to clear debris and assess the damage to begin repairs.

All bookings have been suspended temporarily “until our reopening date becomes clearer.”

For wider help to St Martin, please visit the Salvation Army.

The post How to Help the Staff of a Beloved Hotel in St Martin appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Punta Cana’s airport has officially reopened after the passage of Hurricane Maria, officials announced.

The airport, one of the busiest in the Caribbean, welcomed three flights from Delta out of New York and Atlanta.

Punta Cana resumed operations after a preventive stop ordered by authorities during Maria’s arrival off the coast of the country.

The airport receives about 60 percent of visitors to the Dominican Republic.

Airport authorities said that flight schedules would be normalized as they confirm with individual airlines.

The hotel and tourism association of the Dominican Republic, ASONAHORES, said the country’s tourism infrastructure had not suffered “material damages” as a result of Hurricane Maria, which passed on the north and northeastern coast of the country.

“The main tourism installations and infrastructure in Punta Cana, Samanà and Puerto Plata including the North Coast, have not suffered any important damage with Hurricane Maria; its main effect has been damages to gardens and the falling of trees,” the organization said in a statement.

Around 50,000 tourists spent Wednesday night and Thursday in what officials called “secure conditions,” with those relocated returning Thursday to their original hotels.

ASONAHORES said areas on the north coast including Cabarete, Sosua and Puerto Plata had seen rain and high tide, but do not project “major impacts.”

The post Punta Cana Airport Reopens After Hurricane Maria appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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